Christopher Nkunku will miss out through another injury when Chelsea and Leeds United clash in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday.
Chelsea will aim to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals when they welcome Leeds United to Stamford Bridge in the fifth round on Wednesday evening. And Mauricio Pochettino has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Christopher Nkunku is the latest absentee, with the Frenchman picking up another injury. The summer arrival has joined Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Benoit Badiashile, Lesley Ugochukwu, Romeo Lavia, and Carney Chukwuemeka on the sidelines.
In addition, Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella are doubtful to feature and will likely miss out on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Pochettino commented on Nkunku’s latest injury during his pre-match press conference.
The Chelsea boss said, “We need to evaluate him (Nkunku) every day. At the moment, he could be maybe three or four weeks out. We hope no more. We found out after [the final that he had suffered an injury]. It’s difficult for him. When he arrived in pre-season, he was flying on the pitch and in training in America.”
“Then he got the knee injury and now it’s nearly eight months later. Even when he was ready to be involved again, he couldn’t be the same as before. That is the risk. We have in our head the potential best Nkunku that everyone knows from the Bundesliga, but he can’t be that player. That is why it is unfair to judge because the situations are completely different.”
Nkunku’s absence means Conor Gallagher will reprise the no. 10 role again. But he should see some changes around him, with Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk returning to the starting lineup as the wide attackers. Raheem Sterling should spearhead the Chelsea attack against Leeds United.
As for the midfield unit, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez should pair up with each other in the double pivot. But the backline will see a few changes, with Trevoh Chalobah and Alfie Gilchrist pairing up in the central defensive partnership. Levi Colwill should move into the left-back berth, with Malo Gusto starting on the right flank. Finally, Robert Sanchez should make his long-awaited return, replacing Djordje Petrovic between the sticks.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Gilchrist, Chalobah, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Gallagher, Mudryk; Sterling
